The files here are divided into eight sections: Governor, Rick Stafford, Jim Seif, Walter Baran, Jim Scheiner, Washington Office, Frank Wright, Ginny Thornburgh (VJT). The Governor's files are those kept in part for convenience and reflect topics generally covered elsewhere in addition. The staff files are small in number, regretfully. It should be noted that the work of many additional and principal staff and cabinet members is reflected in other sections of the collection, just for example: Weekly Reports, or the files regarding from the Economic Development Committee of the Cabinet, or regarding Three Mile Island (TMI) where Bob Wilburn's files are of particular note. Governor Thornburgh's wife, Ginny, was an active and effective partner in the affairs of the Commonwealth, particularly regarding issues related to persons with disabilities, and the Thornburgh archive is enriched by her files, albeit comparatively few in number.

Governor Thornburgh Files. As a governor who was also a prolific reader and monitor of topics and events, it is not surprising that Thornburgh kept files, which here are an alphabetical group of topics of interest to him, both professionally and personally. It should be noted that while these topics, which range from agriculture to Liquor Control Board (LCB) and Three Mile Island (TMI) and many others, appear together in this section, they are not to be seen, by any means, as inclusive of the Governor's interests or of subjects of singular importance to his administration. There are two main groups of topics: those having to do with governmental and administration interests, such as economic development, welfare reform, budget, etc.; and those more "personal" to Thornburgh: special correspondence, memorabilia and notes, etc. Most materials have been annotated by Thornburgh.

While most of these topics can be found in other areas of the collection, a few files are unique subjects. For example, there are no other files regarding a potential Thornburgh candidacy for the 1985 Senate race against incumbent Senator Arlen Specter. Specter was seen as a legislator "never a favorite among conservatives" and who "had alienated some of the far right in Washington with his positions on ... volatile issues" (
Evidence, p.190). Ultimately, Thornburgh decided not to run for the seat, even though initial polls suggested he could win a primary election. As he writes in his autobiography: "I ... felt that a primary challenge would be intensely divisive and would be a substantial distraction from my efforts to complete a successful second term" (
Evidence, 190).

Richard A. Stafford Files. Regarding the first campaign for Governor in 1978, Thornburgh writes of Stafford: "To head our research effort, we were fortunate enough to sign on Rick Stafford, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon's Graduate School of Urban and Public Affairs. Rick was a tireless worker and an imaginative thinker, and his relaxed style and sense of humor often eased tense situations" (
Evidence, p.76). Stafford, with Paul Critchlow, Jim Seif, and Murray Dickman, acted as what Thornburgh calls the "hard core of our campaign roster" (
Evidence, p.76).

After the 1978 election, Stafford assumed the role of transition director, the files for which appear in the Campaign for Governor, 1978, section of the archive. Stafford was then appointed Secretary of Legislative Affairs, a title that he would hold for three years, during Thornburgh's first term in office.

The Office of Policy Development (OPD) would provide Stafford, called by Governor Thornburgh "the majordomo of our internal think tank," (
Evidence, p.108) information and research on policy issues. Stafford would then "assess the issues, the views of relevant departments and agencies, and related history and experience in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. This review would result in a 'pure' policy recommendation or set of options" (
Evidence, p.108). During the 1979 Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear accident, Stafford was a member of what Thornburgh called his "adhocracy." Their primary duty was to determine exactly what was happening among the contradictory statements being issued by officials from Metropolitan Edison, federal regulators and other groups. Stafford's Three Mile Island (TMI) files here are his personal documentation of the accident and its aftermath.

Stafford left the administration in 1983 but returned in 1985 to serve as Executive Assistant to the Governor, a vital position left vacant by Jay Waldman, who at that time joined a Philadelphia law firm.

Stafford's files are divided into six sections:

Secretary of Legislative Affairs files, 1979-1983. There are two separate alphabetical groups of policy issues and topics. The files all contain notes, correspondence, memoranda, and reports. Thirdly are the Three Mile Island (TMI) files, 1979-1982, with a listing of important reports and correspondence, along with a separate alphabetical listing of topics, commissions, and reports. Much material in Stafford's files is annotated by staff, Stafford, and the Governor.

Executive Assistant to the Governor files, 1985-1987. Files include two separate groups, the first an alphabetical listing of policy issues and topics, much like his files as Secretary of Legislative Affairs. The second is a group of "Stafford's files," which appear to be more "personal," in the sense that they contain notes and reminders, as well as annotated correspondence and memoranda.

Lastly, as Executive Assistant to the Governor, Stafford supervised preparation of reports for the incoming Casey Administration. These include briefing material prepared by the Thornburgh staff to provide, in effect, a status report for the Commonwealth.

James M. Seif files. When Thornburgh was elected governor in 1978, he selected Jim Seif to serve as his administrative assistant. Seif's duties included the all-important responsibility for scheduling. It was an appointment founded on years of personal relationship with Seif, who first met Thornburgh during the latter's bid for a U.S. Congress seat in 1966. Seif was also one of eighteen prosecutors in Pittsburgh, along with Jay Waldman, when Thornburgh served as U.S. Attorney, 1969-1975. Seif then served alongside Jay Waldman as special assistant to Thornburgh during his term as Assistant Attorney General in Washington D.C.,1975-1978, and was in charge of scheduling during the 1978 Gubernatorial campaign.

Seif's files clearly demonstrate the variety of roles that Seif served as administrative assistant to Governor Thornburgh. The first four groupings of material contain correspondence files, including correspondence from Seif to outside persons and correspondence that Seif wrote for Governor Thornburgh's signature, detailed telephone logs, staff memoranda and correspondence, and scheduling material, the area for which Seif had primary responsibility. The fifth group is "Thornburgh notes and annotated clippings," files which are a collection of notes, clippings and materials that Thornburgh annotated and sent to Seif "to file." Because of the miscellaneous nature of this material and non specific purpose, Seif simply created the "Thornburgh to file" file, humorously, which is arranged here by year. The final group is an alphabetical arrangement of a broad array of administration issues.

Walter Baran files. Walter Baran was asked to join the Thornburgh gubernatorial administration as Secretary of General Services, and was the first Polish-American to serve as a Pennsylvania cabinet member. He was one of the four cabinet appointees who served the entire eight years of Thornburgh's two terms as Governor. Secretary Baran's actions and accomplishments as Secretary are best noted in the Weekly Reports section of this archive, as well as in files related to a cost cutting team effectively headed by Baran, the reports for which from 1979-1982, and 1986, are all available here online. Baran received an "Award for Distinguished Service to State Government" from the National Governors Association (NGA) in 1982.

In addition, Baran was involved early in the planning of a major Capitol addition. As Thornburgh states in his autobiography, "plans [were developed] for a handsome series of structures that provided ... a beautiful environment but also badly needed new office to replace the crowded and, in some cases, unsafe legislative quarters. The legislature approved the funding and the project began" (
Evidence, p. 142). However, a "bogus 'granite-gate' scandal' over purchases from the same quarry that had supplied the stone from the original Capitol" erupted ... although ultimately the
New York Times architecture critic called it "perhaps the most ambitious work in the Classical mode in the United States in a generation ... a design that manages at once to enrich the original capitol building" (
Evidence, p. 143). Baran's friends subsequently prepared for him an extensive and inclusive scrapbooks of clippings and articles from this ambitious and remarkable project, which have been copied and made available here in this archive.

James I. Scheiner files. Scheiner served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, 1987-1983. He and Secretary Thomas Larson were a remarkable and successful team in turning around this major department and restoring professionalism and esteem to its actions. His files here well enumerate the department's successes. In addition, the Weekly Reports elsewhere in the archive, well document additional and detailed accomplishments. Scheiner was one of several cabinet members whose accomplishments led from one leadership position to another within the Thornburgh administration. Thus Scheiner was named Revenue Secretary, in 1983, and "turned in an outstanding performance in this vital position" (
Evidence, p. 160). The 1987 department management letter, 1987, enumerates the accomplishments of the department under Scheiner's leadership. His files here, however, relate to the Department of Transportation and include, for example: memoranda, progress reports, department initiatives, and a case study entitled "Revitalization of PennDOT: A Case Study in Effective Public Management." In addition, the PennDOT annual reports are all available here online.

Washington Office for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania files. Thornburgh established a Washington Office for Pennsylvania in 1980. See the news release announcing the new office on January 28, 1980, and related executive orders, all available here online. The files from this office include for example: events, Thornburgh testimonies in D.C., correspondence between the Governor and members of Congress, and the President, and memoranda.

Frank Wright files. Here are correspondence files, 1983-1986, from the period when he served as Secretary of Policy and Planning.

Ginny Thornburgh files. As has been indicated elsewhere, this remarkable First Lady, who contributed so notably to successes of the Thornburgh administration, did not keep extensive files. Therefore, this small collection represents only in small measure the extent of her accomplishments. There are four sections of the First Lady's files: trips, topics, schedules, and clippings. In topics there is, for example: correspondence, articles Ginny Thornburgh has written, and topics of vital importance to her such as the President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR), to which she was appointed by President Reagan. Please note that there is additional material regarding Ginny Thornburgh in the press secretary's files in this archive.

The first section, from the trips on behalf of the Commonwealth by Governor and Mrs. Thornburgh, includes destinations such as China, England, Germany, Israel, Korea and Russia. There is information about their schedules, letters and notes between individuals with whom they met during these trips, and articles regarding the activities and topic-centered meetings in each country. The files are arranged alphabetically by country. These relate significantly to the Governor's foreign trip files.

The second section includes, among other items, programs of importance to Mrs. Thornburgh. One, for example, is Operation Crossroads-Africa, a not-for-profit program, founded in 1957, that served as a model for the Peace Corps. The program sent many young Americans overseas to serve those less fortunate. Also here are files relating to the Ginny Thornburgh Foundation Scholarships. As a recognition of Ginny's exceptional work with persons with disabilities, the foundation was created. The opportunity to award scholarships to students in Special Education continues and is a tribute highly valued by Ginny. This file primarily consists of correspondence between Ginny and the recipients of these scholarships.

The third section contains Mrs. Thornburgh's schedules relating to visitors from other countries. These files are arranged in chronological order beginning in 1979 through 1986. The final section includes news clippings about her activities, 1979-1987. There also are scrapbooks with clippings and memorabilia about Ginny's work as "First Lady" which were created by her mother, and are invaluable in documenting her work during these governor years.

Of note, too, are Ginny Thornburgh files in the press office files in this archive, arranged alphabetically by topic. Files typically include, for example: articles, news releases, reports, and various other annotated notes and letters. Due to Ginny's activism on behalf of persons with disabilities, much material on related issues appears in these files. These files are a great resource for anyone interested in the disability field, notable activism by the governor's wife, other interests such as women's rights, and roles that Mrs. Thornburgh assumed during her years as "First Lady," 1979-1987.

Anton, Fred, President of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association (PMA) 1981

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APSCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties) 1982

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Arson 1982

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Attorney General 1979-1982

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Aviation 1982

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Auditor General 1981-1982

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Department of Banking 1979-1980

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$100 Million bond issue 1979

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Bridge bill 1982

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Budget 1979-1980, 1982-1983

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Business Council of Pennsylvania 1979-1982

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Chamber of Commerce 1982

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"Choices for Pennsylvanians: Toward an Economic Development and Community Conservation Strategy: Analysis of Impacts of State and Federal Programs on Economic Development and Community Conservation in Pennsylvania," attachments 1- 7 June, 1980

Box 370

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"Choices for Pennsylvanians: Toward an Economic Development and Community Conservation Strategy: Analysis of Impacts of State and Federal Programs on Economic Development and Community Conservation in Pennsylvania," attachments 8-26 May-November, 1980

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Choices for Pennsylvanians/Housing and Urban Development 1979-1980

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Collective bargaining in the Public Sector, Acts 195 and 111 1978-1982

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Commonwealth Compensation Commission 1979

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Department of Commerce (including tourism) 1978-1982

Box 371

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Department of Commerce: Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority 1977-1980

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Department of Community Affairs 1979-1982

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Bureau of Consumer Protection January-February, 1979

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Department of Corrections 1981

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Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission March 16, 1979

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Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission March 21, 1979

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Drug and alcohol abuse: Governor's Council 1978-1981

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Department of Education 1979-1982

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Department of Environmental Resources (DER) 1978-1981

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Department of Environmental Resources (DER): management review 1981

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Fish Commission September 5, 1979

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Governor's office 1978-1979

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Lieutenant Governor's office 1979-1981

Box 372

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Department of General Services 1978-1981

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Department of Health 1978-1982

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Historical and Museum Commission 1980

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Horse Racing Commission January 11, 1979

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Human Resources Committee and the Department of Labor and Industry: Memorandum of Understanding, projections, Social Service Block Grant 1982-1984

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Independent Regulatory Review Commission 1980-1983

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Institutions and facilities owned by Commonwealth (including state hospitals) 1980